Thread-applying mechanism for can-labeling machines.



L. W. LOMBARD. THREAD APPLYING MECHANISM FOR CAN LABELING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13. 1917. 1,275,949. Patented Aug. '13, 1918-.

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L. W. LOMBARD.

THREAD APPLYING MECHANISM FOR CAN LABELING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, I917.

1,275,949. Patented Aug. 13, 19x3,

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L. W. LOMBARD.

' THREAD APPLYING MECHANISM FOR CAN LABEUNG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13. 1911.

1,275,949. Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI W. LOMBARD, 0F WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN'OR TO JOHN A. MOIR, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

THREAD-APPLYING MECHANISM FOR CAN-LABELING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Application filed February 13, 1917. Serial No. 148,406.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI W. LQMBARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Naltham, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Thread-Applying Mechanism for Can-Labeling Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to machines for wrapping labels about cans to seal them and has for its object mechanism for placing a thread between the label and the can so that the can may be readily opened by stripping off the thread and breaking that portion of the label which seals the cover. The mecha nism embodying my invention is particularly adapted to be used in connection with a machine for Wrapping labels about cylindrical cans such as coffee cans or the like, and therefore, is shown in the accompanying drawings as applied to a machine of that type. It consists in general of thread laying members, and of thread holding and cutting instrumentalities, which act in conjunction with the label applying mechanism to automatically lay thread on a label, hold it in position while it is being laid, and release it and cut it as it is being wrapped about the can with the label by the label applying mechanism. In the form of ma chine shown in the drawings, the thread laying device is automatically set in motion by one can to lay thread on the label preparatory to passage of the next can across the label.

The thread laying mechanism preferably consists of a pear of thread oarrlers which are mounted to move about a base plate secured to the runway of a label applying machine at one side of the batch of labels to be applied. The earners are secured at opposite sides of an endless chain and are adapted to pass along one side of the labels in the runway, the endless chain being frictionally driven by the driving mechanism of the label applying device. The cans to which the labels are along the runway of the label applying machine by an endless belt which first brings each can into contact with paste applying mechanism, not shown, and then rolls it over the labels so that the top label is to be applied are rolled wrapped about the can. The frictionally driven chain upon which carriers are mounted is normally held stationary by means of a latch. The latch is automatically released by the can as it passes on to the labels and one of the carriers follows the can to which the label is being applied and lays a thread over the top label ready for the next can so that when the next can is rolled over the labels the top label together with the thread will be wrapped about it.

The thread carriers, which are each provided with thread feeding mechanism, as will be hereinafter described, cooperate with front and rear thread holders located at each end of the batch of labels. The rear thread holder is arranged to catch and hold a thread delivered to it by each carrier as it travels by the labels so that the thread is drawn out of the carrier feed mechanism and is laid over the top label by the carrier. The front thread holder which is at the other end of the labels, is adapted to receive and hold the thread as it is being fed out by the carrier and together with the rear holder to hold the thread taut over the uppermost label.

Mechanism by which the holders automatically release the thread as it is being wrapped on the can is provided, that which operates the rear holder being actuated by the can to which the thread and label are being applied, and that by which the front holder is operated is governed by the carrier which follows the can.

My invention will be fully understood when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and fully defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of a label applying machine provided with a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a part of a label applyin machine provided with a device embodyin my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the device embodying my invention as viewed from the right hand end of Fig. 2 showing also a portion of a pile of labels and of a can.

Fig. 4 is a detail enlarged of a portion of a device embodying my invention showing the thread feeding mechanism in the position assumed by it as the thread is delivered to the rear thread holder.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the base plate showing the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view enlarged of the thread holding and cutting mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6 showing the parts in their open position.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a can to which a label and thread have been applied.

Having reference to the drawings, there is shown a part of a can labeling machine of the usual type employed to wrap labels about cylindrical cans such as coffee cans or the like. The machine consists of a table 11 over which extends an endless belt 12 driven by a suitable pulley 13 mounted on a standard 14 which is secured to the table 11. Filled cans 9, one of which only is shown, are rolled one at a time along the table 11 and are first brought into contact with paste applying mechanism, not shown, and thereafter pass over a batch of labels 10, the uppermost of which adheres to the can and is wrapped about it in a manner well known to those skilled in the art so that the cover is sealed.

The device embodying my invention consists in general of a pair of thread carriers 15 and 16 which are provided with thread feeding mechanism, consisting in part of the feed tube 46. The thread carriers travel about over an endless path 45 in a plate so that they pass by the labels 10 to be applied. The carriers are mounted on an endless chain 19 which is operated by a friction drive 29. They normally remain stationary, one at each end of the plate 23, as shown in Fig. 2, being prevented from moving by a latch 81. The latch is released by the can to which a label is being applied and then the carriers each move to the opposite end of the plate and stop. During this movement a thread is delivered to the rear holder 60,

is laid across the top label 10, and then delivered to the front holder 61. Mechanism for cutting the thread and for operating the holders 60 and 61 so that they will release the thread as it is being wrapped about a can, is also provided and will be hereinafter described in connection with the detailed description of the various devices.

The thread carriers 15 and 16 are mounted on carrier plates 17 and 18 respectively which are secured to the endless chain 19, by pins 20. The chain 19 runs on sprockets 21 and 22 located in a base plate 23, which is adjustably mounted on the table 11 at one side of the label reservoir for the labels 10, being secured thereto by slot and pin connections 24. The sprocket 21 is loosely mounted on a shaft 25 and the sprocket 22 is fast on a shaft 26 which is connected with a pulley 28 by meansof the friction drive 29, the pulley 28 being driven by a pulley 30 fast on the main drive shaft of the machine through a belt 31 passing about idler pulleys 32. The friction drive 29 is arranged so that movement is imparted to the chain and carriers 15 and 16 unless they are held against movement by the latch 81 tobe-described.

The thread carriers 15 and 16 comprise trough shaped containers 33 and 34 respectively, preferably of the shape shown. The containers are slotted at two opposite sides, as shown at 35 and 36 respectively, and each is adapted to receive a spool of thread 37 loosely mounted on a shaft 38 which is squared at its ends and is received in the slots 35 and 36. The thread 39 from each of the spools 37 passes through a hole 40 in the outside of the containers 33 and 34, the spools being prevented from over-running by a friction plate 41 backed by a spring 42 as is shown in Fig. 2.

Each carrier 15 and 16 is provided with thread feeding mechanism which consists of a tube 46 of suflicient size to permit the thread 39 to pass through it, mounted on a lever 47 pivoted between its ends at 48 to an apron 49 secured to the plate 17 of the thread carrier. The short end of the lever 47 is secured to a cam roll 50, which is located at the inner side of the apron 49, by means of a pin 51 which passes through an elongated slot 52 in the apron. The cam roll 50 travels in a cam slot 53 in the side of the plate 23 which raises or lowers the feeding tube 46 accordingly as the position of the slot 53 varies in the side of the plate 23. I provide means for preventing the thread 39 from being drawn through the tube 46, except at the desired time, which consist of a slide rod 54 loosely fitting within a hollow portion 55 of the lever 47 and provided with an up-turned end 56 passing through a hole 57 in an angular bracket 58 secured to the plate 17 of the carrier. hen the tube 46 is lowered from its uppermost position, the up-turned end 56 engages the side of the hole 57 and draws the rod 54 away from the thread 39 thereby allowing the thread to pass freely through the tube 46.

The carriers are normally held one at each end of the plate 23 by the latch 81 which is located at one end of the plate, as shown in Fig. 3, and is adapted to engage with the apron 49 of each of the carrier plates 17 and 18. The latch is integral with an arm 82 secured at one end to a rock shaft journaled in brackets 71- carried by the plate 23. The rock shaft 70 is provided with an arm 72, through the free end of which a slide rod 73 projects. The arm is yieldingly secured to the rod 73, by means of a spring 75, which surrounds the rod and is interposed between the arm 72 and the upright 76 in which the rod is loosely mounted, a pair of nuts 74 being secured to the rod at the other side of the arm. The upper end of the rod 73 projects through the upright 76 and passes through a hole in a lever 77, and is provided with a head 78 which engages the upper surface of the lever. At one end, the lever is pivotally connected to a fixed bracket 79, the free end being provided with a roll 80 which is located in the path of cans passing through the labeling machine in a manner to be engaged by them as will be described. The latch 81 is normally held in raised position by the spring so as to engage an apron 49 of the carriers. The movement of the carriers 15 and 16 is thus interrupted as each carrier arrives at the latch.

The mechanism hereinabove decribed, which for convenience may be termed the thread laying mechanism, acts in conjunction with thread holding and cutting in strumentalities which will now be described. The thread holding devices comprise a rear holder 60 and a front holder 61, the former consisting of a fixed'member 62 and a movable member 63 and the latter consisting of a fixed member 64: and a movable member 65.

The rear thread holder is located at one end of the reservoir for the labels 10 in a position slightly below the top label, the fixed member 62 being secured to the plate 23. The member 62 has a curved surface 66 and the member 63 has a curved surface 68 which together with the curved surface of the member 62 forms a gradually narrowing slot adapted to catch and hold the end of the thread 39 as it is drawn into the slot by the thread carriers. The movable member 63 is integral with an arm 69, secured to the rock shaft 70, which is arranged and operated simultaneously with the latch 81 in a manner hereinabove described. The member 63 is normally held in raised position by the spring 7 5 and cooperates with the fixed member 62 so that they catch and hold a thread between them. Then the member 63 is depressed, as shown in Fig. 3, one side of the thread holding slot is removed and a thread in the holder is thereby released.

The front thread holder 61 is located at the opposite end of the reservoir for the labels 10 from that at which the rear thread holder 62 is located. It is adjacent the cutting instrumentalities and is operated simultaneously with them. These parts will therefore be described together.

Having reference particularly to Figs. 2, 6 and 7 there is shown at 83 a floating lever which rests in a rectangular shaped hollow portion of the base plate 23. At each end of the lever 83, and in a position to be engaged by a cam surface 84: on each carrier plate 17 and 18, are rolls 85 and 86 rotatably mounted on upright pins 87 The rolls are located in slots 88 and project slightly above the surface of the base plate 23 adjacent the path of the carriers 15 and 16 as shown. At one side of the base plate 23, and near one end as shown, is a pair of cutters 89 and 90 slidably mounted in a slot in a casing or holder 91. The knife 89 is cut away at 92 (see Fig. 7 and has a cutting edge 93. The knife 90 is provided with a cutting edge 9 1 at its end which is adapted to cotiperate with the cutting edge of the knife 89.

The knife 89 is connected with the lever 83 by means of a link 95 pivoted to a stud 96 at the inner end of the knife arm, and to the lever 83 as shown at 97. The arm of the knife 90 is connected with the-lever 83 by means of a link 98 and lever 99. The link 98 is pivotally connected at one end to a stud 100 at the inner end of the arm, and at the other end to the lever 99, the latter being pivoted at 101 to the holder 91, and pivotally connected at its other end to the lever 83 as shown at 97. When the roll 85 is moved inwardly, the knife 89 is moved outwardly by the link 95 and the knife 90 is moved inwardly by the link 98 and lever 99, the knife blades being thereby separated. When the roll 86 is moved inwardly the reverse action takes place and the knife blades are brought together.

The front holder 61 consists of a fixed member 64 and a movable member 65. The movable member 65 is pivoted at 103 to the casing 91, the portion 64 of which operates as the fixed member of the holder. A pin 105, passing through an elongated slot 106 in the casing and connected at one end to the knife 89 and loosely connected at the other end to the holder member 65, causes the holder member 65 to move simultaneously with the cutting mechanism. When the knife edges are separated the member 65 is raised as shown in Fig. 7 and when they come together the member is moved about its pivot into thread holding position.

The front and rear holders are both lower than the uppermost label so that the thread is held against the label to be applied. To insure delivery of the thread to the holders, the feed tube 46 moves down to each holder as the carrier passes and, while the carrier is going by the labels, is raised enough to clear them. This movement is accomplished by the arrangement of the cam path 53 in the edge of the plate 23. At 108 the cam path is in its lowermost position. At 107 it inclines upwardly at a point opposite the rear thread holder 60 to a point indicated at 109 and at 110 it inclines downwardly to a position indicated at 111, the portion indicated at 111 being slightly above the portion of the cam path indicated at 168. That part of the cam path which is adjacent the front thread holder 61 inclines upwardly from the portion 111 as indicated at 112 to the point 113 and thence downwardly at 114; to its original level as indicated at 108. The cam path arranged in this manner causes the feed tube 16 to deliver the thread 39 to the rear thread holder 60 and to the front thread holder 61 in a manner which will be fully set forth in connection with the operation of the machine.

In order that the feed mechanism may be threaded, I widen the slot as indicated at 2 in Fig. 1. This enables the feed tubes 17 to be lowered and the rod 55 to be drawn back so that the thread may be readily inserted through the tube +27.

The operation of the machine will now be described: The traveling belt 12 causes the cans 9 to be rolled one at a time along the runway on the table 11 of the can labeling machine. The shaft by which the belt 12 is driven also drives the pulley 28, which is frictionally connected to the shaft 26 on which the sprocket 22 is mounted, by means of the friction drive 29. The carriers are normally held stationary at opposite ends of the plate 23 by the latch 81 which engages the apron 49 of one of the carrier plates 17 or 18, the pulley 28 being allowed to move relatively to the shaft 26 by the friction drive 29. As a can 9 passes along the runway in the table 11, it first passes over the paste applying mechanism, not shown, which may be of any usual type, and thence passes on to the top label of the pile of la bels 10. Assuming that a thread hasalready been laid in the manner to be described on the top label, as shown in Fig. 2, the end of the top label adheres to the can when the latter passes on to it. As the can' thus commences to pick up the thread and label the flange 114 of the can cover 115 engages the roll mounted on the end of the lever 7 7 and raises it to the position shown in Fig. 3. The rod 73 is thus moved upwardly against the spring 75, the rock shaft 70 is turned and the latch 81 and the movable member 63 of the rear thread holder 60 are lowered to the position shown. The latch is thus released and the carriers start to move along the path in the plate 23. This operation releases the thread from the rear thread holder 60 so that the thread may be rolled up on the can together with the label as the can proceeds.

After the can passes from under the roll 80, the spring raises the latch, first against the lower surface of the apron 49 of the car rier, and afterward to its former position after the apron has passed over it. The movable member 63 of the rear thread holder 60 is at the same time moved upwardly to its thread holding position before the carrier and feed tube 46 pass by. As the feed tube approaches the rear thread holder 60, it is lowered by the roll 50, as the roll passes up the inclined portion 107 of the cam path 53, to a point closely adjacent the holder. The thread is thus delivered directly into the slot of the rear holder so that it is necessarily caught and held by the holder as the feed tube passes. Vhen at this point, the lower end of the feed tube is somewhat below the level of the table 11 and of the topmost label 10. The roll 50 then passes on to the inclined portion 110 of the cam path and thence to the portion 111 and raises the feed tube so that it just clears the labels as it passes .over them. When in this position the slide rod 5 1 in the hollow portion ofthe lever 4L7 is held out of contact with the thread 39 so that the thread may be freely drawn out of the feed tube by the rear holder.

It will be noted from the above that as the can leaves the roll and travels over the la bels it is followed by that carrier which has just been released by the latch. The parts are arranged so that the speed of the carriers is somewhat greater than'that of the can, and when the can arrives at the other end of the labels l0 wit-h a label and thread completely wrapped about it, the carrier which follows the can arrives at the roll of the lever 83 which operates the front holder 61 and the cutting mechanism. The cam surface 84 at the rear end of the plate 17 or 18 upon which the carrier is mounted engages the roll 85 and presses it inwardly to the inner end of the slot 88 in which it is mounted, thereby separating the knives 89 and 90 and raising the movable member 65 of the front holder. As the can passes off the labels with a'label and thread wrapped about it, the end of the thread which is held by the front thread holder 61 is thus re leased.

The carrier then arrives at the front holder 61 and knives 89 and 90. The cam roll 50 passes up the inclined surface 112 of the cam path 53 thereby lowering the end of the feed tube46 to a point closely adjacent the fixed member 64L of the front holder. The thread is thus passed through the holder between the knives 89 and 90. lVhen in this position the cam surface 84: at

the end of the carrier plate 17 or 18, on 1 which the carrier containers are mounted, engages with the roll 86 at the end of the lever 83 and presses it inwardly so that the movable member 65 engages and holds the thread, and the knives 89 and 90 are brought together to sever it. The cam roll 50 then passes down the portion 114 of the cam path to the portion 108 so that the feed tube is lifted to its uppermost position. Vhen in this position the upturned end 56 of the rod 54 in the hollow portion 55 of the lever 47 engages with the screw 59 and pinches the thread thereby preventing it from being drawn out of the feed tube. Furthermovement of the carrier is then arrested by the latch which engages with the carrier at the opposite side of the chain and the carriers are held in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 until they are started by the next can.

It will thus be seen that the carriers have an intermittent movement which is governed by the can to which a thread and label are being applied which causes the thread to be laid in a position ready for the next can. I regard this feature of my invention as important for I am enabled in this manner to govern the thread laying mechanism so that it will cooperate perfectly with the label applying mechanism of the labeling machine regardless of the number of cans to which labels are being applied or to the manner in which they are passing through the ma chine.

Another important feature of my invention is that by the mechanism hereinabove described, the thread is held taut across the label at the exact point desired until it is completely rolled up with the label and the can. This enables the thread to be placed about the can exactly at the juncture of the can body and can cover which is absolutely necessary in order that the seal may be properly broken when the thread is stripped ofl from the can.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with mechanism for applying labels to an object such as a can, a support for the label, a thread feed, one of said members having a movement relatively to the other to cause a thread to be laid across the label, and thread severing mechafiism adjacent the path of the movable memer.

2. In combination with mechanism for applying labels to an object such as a can, a thread holder atone end of the label, a traveling thread feed movable across the label, and thread serving mechanism at the side of the label opposite to said holder.

8. In combination with mechanism for applying labels to an object such as a can, a thread holder at one end of the label, a second thread holder at the opposite end of the label, a traveling thread feed movable across the label from one holder to the other, and thread severing mechanism adjacent one of said holders.

4. In a machine of the character described, label applying mechanism, a label supporting member, a thread feeding member, one of said members being movable relatively to the other at intervals to lay the thread across the label, the movement of said member being governed by the label applying mechanlsm,

5. In a machine of the character described, label applying mechanism, a label supportmg member, and a thread feeding member, one of said members having a movement at intervals relatively to the other, said movement being governed by the can to which a label is being applied.

6. In a machine of the character described label applying mechanism, a traveling thread feed movable across the label to be applied at intervals, and mechanism actuated by the movement of one can to set the thread feed in motion to lay the thread across the label for the next can.

7 In a machine of the character described, the combination of label applying mechanism a carrier which moves relatively to the labels to be applied, a thread feed on said carrier, a thread holder adjacent the path of said thread feed, and thread severing mechanism operated by said thread carrier.

8. In a machine of the character described, a can run-way, a label holder in said runway, means for rolling cans over labels in the holder, a thread feed movable over the labels in the run-way, thread holders adjacent the label holder and adjacent the path of the thread feed, and means for moving the thread feed which are controlled by the can. to which the label is being applied.

9. In a machine of the character described, a run-way, a label holder therein, means for rolling cans along the run way, a thread feed movable over the labels in the holder, means for actuating said thread feed, and a member controlling said actuating means which projects over said run-Way in a position to be engaged by a can.

10. In a machine of the character de- 10o scribed, a can run-way having a label holder therein, means for rolling cans thereon, a thread feed. movable over labels in said holder, a drive mechanism, a frictional connection between said drive mechanism and said thread feed, a latch which engages said thread feed, and means for operating said latch by the can to which a label is being applied.

11. In a machine of the character de- 119 scribed and in combination with can labeling machines, a thread applying device which consists of a movable thread feed, a pair of thread holders located adjacent the path of the thread feed, and means for severing the thread after it has been placed in the holders.

12. In a device of the character described and in combination with can labeling machines, a frictionally driven thread feed, a me latch which engages the thread feed and holds it stationary, and a thread holder having a movable member which is connected with said latch, said latch and movable member being operated by the can labeling mechanism.

13. In a machine of the character described, the improved carrying and feeding mechan sm comprising a container in which a spool 1s rotatably mounted, a feed tube pivotally connected with said container through which the thread from the-spool passes, a base plate upon Which said carrier is movably mounted having a cam slot therein, and a cam roll traveling in said cam slot which is connected with said feed tube and operates to move it about its pivot.

14. In a machine of the character described the combination With a container having a spool therein, of a feed tube through which the thread from said container passes, a lever pivotally secured to said container upon which said feed tube is mounted, a base plate about which said container travels having a cam slot therein, a thread holder adjacent the path of said feed tube, and a cam roll traveling in said slot which is secured to said lever, said slot being formed to rock said lever about its pivot toward the thread holder as the feed tube passes and thereafter avvay from the same.

15. In a machine of the character described, a thread feed h'avin a given path of movement, a rock lever adjacent the path of movement of the thread feed the ends of which are adapted to be engaged successively thereby,and a knife Whichis reciprocated by said rock lever.

16. In a machine of the character described, a movable member having a thread feed thereon, a rock lever at one side of the path of said movement which is adapted to be engaged first at one end and then at the other end by said member, a pair of cooperating knives, a link connecting one of said knives to said lever, and a link and lever connecting the other of said knives to said lever whereby said knives are moved in opposite directions.

17. In a machine of the character described, the improved thread holding and cutting device comprising a pair of movably mounted knives, a rock lever to Which one of said knives is connected, a second lever operated by said rock lever, a link connecting said second lever to the other of said knives, and a thread holding member operatively connected to one of said knives.

In testimony whereof I afli'x my signature.

LEVI W. LOMBARD.

Copies of this patent may lie obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, wilmllnfiil. D. 0. 

